Archbishop Ibezim tasks PUA on criteria as Arthur Eze’s nephew emerges as Pro-Chancellor

The Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Rev. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim( PhD), has asserted that Paul University, a higher institution owned by the Awka Diocese, will no longer tolerate indolent workers.

The Bishop stated this while inaugurating a new governing council for the university at Paul University,Awka, Anambra State.

He said henceforth, the university would no longer condone truancy, unnecessarily politicking, and complaisancy.

He said the institution would begin to run purely as a business venture, adding that he had put together a team that would pioneer the activities of the institution, with the aim of making it a world class university that would enroll students across the world.

He said, “It took me time to assemble this team (members of governing council). Henceforth, our standard in this university must be high.

“The members of governing council of the institution are men and women of high repute. We have people from the academia, from government, captains of industry and many others.

“We are entrusting the affairs of this university into their hands and we trust them to deliver. Some of this people you see here are busy men and women, who I personally selected and approached to come and help us.”

“We have not gathered here to play.

If you know you are not competent, please resign before we sack you.

Accountabilities are required. The time to play at this university is gone. The time for politics in this university has gone forever. Our standards will be very high.

“Let’s fear God. God will give us wisdom. This place is a faith-based university.

I will come in here anytime to see how things are going. I am not a proprietor that is far. I can come in anytime on supervision; I can also come into any of the lecture halls to listen to lecturers teach. Once we notice a compromise, you’re gone.”

The bishop who conducted a mini church service before the session commenced took his gospel from Ecclesiastes 3: 14:-“I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.”

Admonishing the workers to be guided by the Biblical verse,the Bishop inaugurated the new governing council, which had Prince Dr Emeka Eze, a medical practitioner of the Toronto Hospital, Onitsha as Pro Chancellor, alongside 25 other members, including :House of Representatives member, Prof Lilian Orogbu, Prof Ben Osisioma, Prof. Carol Umeoji, Prof Rose Nwankwo.

In his acceptance speech, the Pro Chancellor, Emeka Eze( nephew of oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze) said, “Members of this council were distilled, and from all walks of life. We have come together to build a university that will be an icon for the next generation. Paul University that will create a better Nigeria and build human resources. Let’s work with zeal, clean heart and forthrightness.

“This business will not be easy. It will require time and intellect. We will mobilize a huge amount of funding to be able to move the university forward, and I trust that we have men and women who can drive it.”

Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Venerable (Prof ) Obiora Nwosu, said, “Paul University has been struggling to survive but succour has come with the Awka Diocese take over of the university. God who is on His everlasting throne in heaven has heard our prayers. To Him alone be all the praises and glory.

He added that under the present management of the university that came on board in mid-2021, 19 old academic programs had been
re-accredited .

He said, “The last six programmes were visited by the NUC in December,2023. All the re-accreditation have always been very successful. By the grace of God, the last 6 will be successful too.

“There are salary arrears to be cleared. The details and actual amount will be tabled to the new council. The salary arrears needs to be paid off, ” the VC stated.

The VC announced that the Council of Legal Education would be visiting the law programme of the university, stating the law students of the university would not be allowed to go to Law School without the university scaling through CLE’s accreditation.

The VC said the Board of Health Information Management would equally be coming for professional accreditation, noting that all those would require funding.

He noted that there were a cute shortage of classrooms, offices, lecture theatres, hostels and laboratories, adding “If there are at least 1000 to 2000 JAMB candidates we can be mobilizing from the secondary schools in Awka Diocese every new academic year, Paul University will never lack fund”.

Our correspondent gathered that Paul University before 2021 was formerly owned by the 55 Anglican Dioceses East of Niger.